Pikiell: "Can't win if you can't score...can't rebound turnovers...too many threes"

[RU848789]

That sums up the game and his comments. When I last checked the scoreboard with a couple of minutes to go, we had 6 assists to 17 TOs (they had 11/12) and we were 2-17 from downtown. Bad game all around by almost everyone, offensively, while the defense was still pretty good, except for a few slow rotations giving up dunks. I hate the fact that we finally had a great crowd, ready to go crazy and we simply laid an egg. And especially losing to PSU. We better figure something out soon if we want to get those 5-6 B1G wins I and many others were thinking was doable.

 

[shields]

I thought the passing was terrible. Thiam has the ball and defender is like 3 feet away and throws the pass. Just terrible passing

 

[ColonelRutgers]

That's the bottom line. This may be the worst shooting team I've ever seen at Rutgers (that's saying something) so they simply cannot compete if they're going to turn it over 20 times a game. Being so anemic on offense can really discourage a team and its fans but I have to strongly disagree with those that are claiming we were "lazy, uninspired" because we lost to a team that supposedly we were favored to beat. Lazy and uninspired shows up at the defensive end and I don't see it. Penn State's offensive stats certainly don't cry out "lazy and uninspired". We were simply a mess on the offensive end.

 

[jtung230]

I agree with his assessment. Maybe as the head coach, he should have made some adjustments during the game.

 

[Hope4RU]

The problem is the same as we've had for several years. We are playing better "D" right now (?) and rebounding better but ......... nobody can shoot !! ...... except Williams and he can't carry the team's scoring on his own.

 

[ColonelRutgers]

The problem is the same as we've had for several years. We are playing better "D" right now (?) and rebounding better but ......... nobody can shoot !! ...... except Williams and he can't carry the team's scoring on his own.

Williams shot 5-17 from field and 3-6 from line. That's not good.

 

[SirScarlet]

That's the bottom line. This may be the worst shooting team I've ever seen at Rutgers (that's saying something) so they simply cannot compete if they're going to turn it over 20 times a game. Being so anemic on offense can really discourage a team and its fans but I have to strongly disagree with those that are claiming we were "lazy, uninspired" because we lost to a team that supposedly we were favored to beat. Lazy and uninspired shows up at the defensive end and I don't see it. Penn State's offensive stats certainly don't cry out "lazy and uninspired". We were simply a mess on the offensive end.

I feel like we are a much better shooting team than last year. We are not a good shooting team...trust me I am not saying that...but seems like we are better than last year.

Wonder what the stats show...

 

[PatrickRU92]

It sucks but its apparent there simply isn't a quick fix. We just don't have it in us.

 

[RU MAN]

I thought the passing was terrible. Thiam has the ball and defender is like 3 feet away and throws the pass. Just terrible passing

True. But the spacing seemed off today and it hurt us in the paint. Pikiell and staff need to have the kids spaced out more on the floor. We were too bunched and it enabled PSU to to defend us tightly on the perimeter. But our guards did nothing to help that. Their dribble drives were out of control. I hardly saw any kick outs. But even if we did, we couldn't hit the broad side of a barn today. Today's game really has me worried going forward. B1G play is going to get tougher and tougher going forward. The real question is where are we going to get 5 or 6 wins? I don't know. We need to rebound from the terrible loss and regroup. And fast.

 

[RUJMM78]

Its simple math when looking at Rutgers versus league opponents.There aren't enough players on this squad who have the offensive skillset to be successful in a power conference.Sanders averaged around 17 points per game last year and his game has clearly regressed.Per Eddie Jordan Johnson was the best player on the team last year when he sat out the year after transferring to Rutgers.This season especially against the two league opponents his shooting and passing have been inconsistent.Sanders and Johnson were supposed to be the go to scorers and that hasn't happened as seen with Rutgers only scoring 52 and 47 points against Wisconsin and Penn State.Where are the points coming from in future games that will result in league wins?Penn State was a must win in front of a supportive home crowd and the result was a double digit loss.

 

[Caliknight]

It sucks but its apparent there simply isn't a quick fix. We just don't have it in us.

This year is about setting an effort bar and to instill program fundamentals, all while recruiting. Those boxes are being checked.

Shooters can't be made. Hopefully the kids coming in can shoot.

 

[RU-ROCS]

I hate the fact that we finally had a great crowd, ready to go crazy and we simply laid an egg. And especially losing to PSU. We better figure something out soon if we want to get those 5-6 B1G wins I and many others were thinking was doable.

Especially this! Ugh!

 

[OntheBanks]

I thought the passing was terrible. Thiam has the ball and defender is like 3 feet away and throws the pass. Just terrible passing

Yes our passing was terrible but theirs was just as bad. How many times did PSU throw a pass to the people sitting on the sidelines?

 

[Caliknight]

The difference in this game is they had guy's skilled enough to score the ball. We don't.

 

[jtung230]

The difference in this game is they had guy's skilled enough to score the ball. We don't.

You mean uncontested dunks and wide open 3s. That's not skills, it's more defense. Difference is that our guys forgot what got them to 11-3. Hint, it's not shooting.

 

[goru7]

Its simple math when looking at Rutgers versus league opponents.There aren't enough players on this squad who have the offensive skillset to be successful in a power conference.Sanders averaged around 17 points per game last year and his game has clearly regressed.Per Eddie Jordan Johnson was the best player on the team last year when he sat out the year after transferring to Rutgers.This season especially against the two league opponents his shooting and passing have been inconsistent.Sanders and Johnson were supposed to be the go to scorers and that hasn't happened as seen with Rutgers only scoring 52 and 47 points against Wisconsin and Penn State.Where are the points coming from in future games that will result in league wins?Penn State was a must win in front of a supportive home crowd and the result was a double digit loss.

Listen, if we get what we have been getting from Corey and Nigel these last 2 games we are screwed. But I doubt they can play much worse than what Corey was at Wisconsin and what Nigel was today. Both are very capable of playing much much better. There is no excuse about their size because Watson at Nebraska, Edwards at Purdue, Melo and the other guard at Maryland, Mason at Minnesota, Tumm Nair at Michigan State , are all smaller or their size is the same , and are playing well

 

[PatrickRU92]

You mean uncontested dunks and wide open 3s. That's not skills, it's more defense. Difference is that our guys forgot what got them to 11-3. Hint, it's not shooting.

all teams every game give up a dunk or 2, a wide open 3 or two, and a couple of giveaways.

the problem is when we do it, it's magnified because we never get those points back.

We aren't going to shut down B1G teams all game.

 

[RUsince52]

Williams shot 5-17 from field and 3-6 from line. That's not good.

Although it only counts if it goes in, there is still something to be said for a shot that is on line vs a brick. How do you hit the backboard, but not the rim on a jump shot. You're a scholarship college BB player who was recruited for being a shooter. A bad night for a half decent shooter is 35%. Can't be 5-17 when youre the main outside threat.
He still would not have made the difference with the way we played today.

 

[shields]

And the last game he started out 4 for 4 on three point shots.

 

[soundcrib]

When he hit the first one I thought today was going to be special...

 

[LotusAggressor]

Shooting in basketball is like blocking in football. You won't score if you can't do it consistently, and no offensive system can compensate for the inability to do it.

 

[Caliknight]

You mean uncontested dunks and wide open 3s. That's not skills, it's more defense. Difference is that our guys forgot what got them to 11-3. Hint, it's not shooting.

Many of those were contested. They had two break down dunks from what I recall. We held them to 60 points. You can win a lot of hoops games in college doing that. But not when you score 47.

Not sure how you can watch that game and say the offense wasn't the problem. We turn it over making routine passes.

 

[goru7]

When he hit the first one I thought today was going to be special...

MIKE started out possessed! 10 points and 5 rebounds and almost a one man show to get us to that 16-12 lead. Games that this if our guards could have broken down their men and then dished out to MIKE , he could have had 30. The threes he ended up taking were off the dribble , where he doesn't shoot it as well as when he is set. That was a failure by our 2 point guards.

 

[mikefla]

Thus far we have had efforts where players contributed like 8-10 deep. Even in our losses.

Any game where Freemen, Nigel have their worst game of the season
we will have an "L"
add Omoruyi, Diallo, Thiam & Doorson all having gooseggs
we will have a bigger "L"

I am indeed disappointed,,,,,,but I will bet the guys are more so

We simply laid an egg...1st time. hopefully the last time this year.

 

[RUJMM78]

I feel like we are a much better shooting team than last year. We are not a good shooting team...trust me I am not saying that...but seems like we are better than last year.

Wonder what the stats show...

I think the stats show Rutgers is 3-35 against league competition which is abysmal.The pattern of poor shooting has been going on for many years and the best players have transferred which only made the situation worse.

 

[SirScarlet]

I think the stats show Rutgers is 3-35 against league competition which is abysmal.The pattern of poor shooting has been going on for many years and the best players have transferred which only made the situation worse.

I'm not sure of the point you're making by responding to my post.

I was responding to someone who said this is the worst shooting team he has ever seen at Rutgers. I believe that last year's was worse. My comment about the stats was that I did not check that but would be willing to bet that this year's team is a better shooting team (although not a good shooting team)

 

[jtung230]

We didn't get our 11 wins by shooting 3s. We made it easy for PSU by SETTLING for long jumpers. We also had too many one-on-ones. I want to see the coaching adjustments in the next game. Limit the 3s, run more motion, and pound the boards. Get back to what got us the 11 wins.